Day 260 – Christmas

Well, the tree is up! And Darren, who “isn’t interested in putting the decs up yet” was well involved in twirling the lights around its branches and orchestrating the placing of baubles and twinkly silver strands of tinsel. He even went out specifically to buy more lights and a few metres of snow blanket, so that we can cover all our surfaces and make a Winter Wonderland!

And now, it’s just another manic Monday.

I start with a vigorous (ish) shower to wake me up and hurriedly lather up my purple shampoo, rinsing away the brassy tones that may be trying to infiltrate my locks. I leave the bathroom in a complete mess – it looks like the crime scene of a Smurf massacre.

I don a bra and brush my hair, in case of any virtual meetings. Then I apply a coat of mascara to my tired eyes.

Question: does anyone else look like Robert De Niro when they’re putting on mascara??

Also, is it wrong to eat a chunk of brie for breakfast?  (Or is it like that theory: if a tree falls in the woods and nobody hears it, does it make a sound….?)

I’m asking for a friend.

It’s blimming cold so I wrap up in my faux fur blanket like a Lord in Game of Thrones, and sit on my throne AKA dining room chair and open the laptop, wondering what lies ahead….

Ding dong (actually, our doorbell tune is Under the Sea from The Little Mermaid) I leg it to the door and am greeted by my neighbour brandishing 2 blueberry muffins. Get in! That’s second breakfast sorted.

It is hard to concentrate today. My brain is skidding from one thing to the next. Things are so busy at the moment and on top of work, there is:

Christmas

Have I got everything I need?

Will it be safe to see my parents?

I wonder when we will get to have Charlotte?

 

Bills

What has been paid and what needs paying?

I must ensure I change the payment date for my car.

 

Health

I hope Darren is OK.

I have been eating a lot lately, that’s not good.

I think I feel better though, less stressed.

Oh crikey, I need to order my prescription ASAP

COVID is so scary

 

Life

What shall we have for tea tonight?

I need to go to Lidl

Oh and wash up that muffin plate for next door.

Shit I have 3 birthdays this week.

I wonder if Darren can get the tyres sorted on the car?

I need to reply to that text from yesterday.

 

This is all within about 45 seconds.

I put the tree lights on and take a few deep breaths. Right.

Then I have to tidy up the rubbish and mugs on the table, because they are really bugging me. OK.

Wait, what is that jingling sound in the washing machine? Great, it’s 2 screws, some rubble and a lighter. I’ll be having words with Darren later….

PROCRASTINATION MUCH?

Back to it. I sort out the cushions and get under the blanket, as it is far too cold to sit by the window. I become absorbed in some emails and then, out of the corner of my eye, the lights turn off. Hmmmnnn. Unplug and plug back in. 2 minutes later it happens again. Then the lights freeze on the most annoying, fit-inducing setting ever. This happens several times and I cannot cope.

I end up spending my lunch break trying to carefully unwrap the wire, dismantling and replacing ornaments and tinsel. The floor looks like a trap from Home Alone.

*****

Darren trundles through the door later that day and I don’t let him step into the front room before he gets a light rollicking about checking his pockets before putting things in the wash. Poor guy.

Then I explain tree-gate. He plugs the lights into a different socket and the frigging things work. I am more than a little peeved. We swap them back to the old socket and they work for a bit, then freeze, blinding us. Ugh! I plug them back into the new socket, willing them to fizzle or stop working – I can’t bear the fact that I spent half an hour undressing the tree for no reason.

The lights go out and I smile. Not in a Grinch-stole-Christmas way, but in a smug, we-will-have-to –take-them-back way.

Darren changes the doorbell chime to Jingle Bells and I look around at the glistening snowflakes and glass ornaments. The remaining lights twinkle and give off a lovely glow. It feels Christmassy and cosy and I feel content. I’m looking forward to wrapping presents and seeing Charlotte ripping open the paper with excitement.

But mostly I am grateful that the people I love are still here to celebrate Christmas, even if I cannot see them this year.  And one day, hopefully soon, I will be able to give them a hug.

Tonight I am thinking of all those who have lost someone special, of those who are struggling with their mental health, and those who are filled with loneliness.

And to you, lovely readers, thank you for being here.  I hope 2021 brings health, happiness and good times to you all.

Stay safe everyone xx